“So apparently…” Madison lowers her voice a notch. “Tyler said he had to stop being friends with Liam, because Liam is legit crazy. Like, he would say and do all these crazy things. And Tyler got really freaked out.”
I suppress the urge to roll my eyes. “Crazy like what?”
“I don’t know exactly,” Madison admits. “But apparently, it was somereallybad stuff. Like, Tyler was actuallyafraidof him. He said Liam is really messed up and any girl who gets involved with him will be sorry.”
Now I really do roll my eyes. “Comeon. You believe that?”
“Yes, I do! Liv, I told you I got a bad vibe about the guy. There’s just something about him…”
“Well, I don’t see it.”
“Then you’re blind.”
I stare at my best friend and feel a burst of anger in my chest. Why is she doing this to me? She knows howmuch I like Liam. She’s dated two complete jerks and I never said one bad word about either of them. Well, that’s about to change right this minute.
“Well,” I say, “at least he’s better than Aidan.”
Madison’s mouth falls open. “What are you talking about? What’s wrong with Aidan?”
“Are you joking? Aidan is a total asshole. He treats you like crap and he’s practically flunking out of school. He bullies underclassmen. And he probably shoots up steroids.”
Two little pink spots appear on either one of Madison’s cheeks. “He doesn’t shoot up steroids.”
“Fine. But all the other stuff is true.” I look her in the eyes, daring her to contradict me. She doesn’t, because I’m totally right. “ButLiamis the awful one. Because he gives you a badvibe. Oh my God, howawful.”
The pink spots on Madison’s cheeks widen. “Fine. You want to go on a date with a psychopath? Be my guest.”
With those words, Madison spins on her heels and stalks off, probably to find Aidan. Her dirty blond ponytail swings aggressively behind her as she walks away. We’ve had fights before, but this feels like the biggest fight we’ve ever had. It makes me uneasy.
But I miraculously forget all that when Liam materializes in front of me.
He looks devastatingly handsome in his track team T-shirt, baggy jeans, and a lightweight jacket with his hair slightly damp from the shower. He smiles at me and my heart does a little dance in my chest. So what if Madison and I are fighting? I can’t even think about that right now.
“You came,” Liam says, as if he’s slightly surprised and pleased.
I return his smile. “Of course I came. I said I would.”
“Yeah, but…” He ducks his head down. “Anyway, I’m glad you’re here.”
This guy isnotcrazy. No way. I don’t know what Madison was talking about. It’s clear Aidan and Tyler are jealous of Liam, because he does so well in school and all the girls think he’s cute.
“You look cold,” he observes.
I’m not going to lie. I’m pretty freaking cold right now. My teeth are actually chattering a little bit, and my lips feel like they’re turning blue. But I don’t want to seem like I’m complaining. “Maybe just a little.”
And then Liam does something that totally melts me. He takes off his jacket and he holds it out to me. “Here. Take it.”
“But thenyou’llbe cold.”
“Nah. I’m okay. I’m still hot from running.”
I’ve never kissed a boy before, but somehow it seems more significant that a boy has never made a gallant, romantic gesture for me before. I’ve had a crush on Liamfor several months now, but at this moment, I fall head over heels.
I’m totally in love.
Chapter Twelve
Transcript of Police Interview with Olivia Reynolds
